Control attachment for electro-mechanically operated communication apparatus used in pulse-code systems



g- 1962 o. H. A. HOLSTEIN ETAL 3,048,656

CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRO-MECHANICALLY OPERA v COMMUNICATION APPARATUS USED IN PULSEFCODE SYSTE Filed March 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y F N X INVENTOR OTTO H A HOLSTEIN ERICH GROSS 3,048,656 ERATED Aug- 7, 19 o. H. A. HOLSTEIN ETAL CONTROL ATTACHMENT F0 COMMUNICATI Filed. March 22, 1960 R ELECTRO-MECHANICALLY OP ON APPARATUS USED IN PULSE-CODE SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR OTTO H. A. HOLSTEIN ERIC GROSS BY j) United States Patent Office 3,048,656 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR ELECTRO-ME- CHANICALLY OPERATED COMMUNICA- TION APPARATUS USED IN PULSE-CODE SYSTEMS Otto Heinrich August Holstein and Erich Gross, Pforzheim, Germany, assignors to International Standard Electric Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 16,791 Claims priority, application Germany Mar. 24, 1959 4 Claims. (Cl. 178-27) This invention relates to a miniature type of command or control attachment comprising a selector-bar mechanism for electro-mechanical communication apparatus used in pulse-code systems in order to additionally utilize the entire code combination for electrical control purposes.

Control attachments of the equipment-operated type are known as functionor stunt-boxes used especially in teleprinters in order to release mechanically or electrically controlled special functions.

The considerable disadvantage of these conventional types of attachments is that they are permanently connected to the equipment, and do not permit a universal employment with other apparatus, especially since the code-selecting elements are of a different construction. Furthermore, in their conventional construction, they are unsuitable as attachments, since the great number of function levers, caused by the number of possible combinations, requires a construction which is difficult to be accommodated.

The invention, therefore, proposes a control or command attachment which assigns one particular contact spring assembly to each signal combination of the code system employed. The contact spring assemblies may be used to control associated logic circuits.

The invention consists in that a random number of selecting elements are provided which correspond to the code system employed with at least one code bar being unslotted. The unslotted code bar is narrower than the other code bars by the depth of the slot, and is used to actuate one switch-over contact depending upon its two possible positions and In this way each function lever provides for at least two code-bar selections, so that only a relatively small number of function levers has to be provided for. To each function lever a multiple contact is assigned from which, in connection with one or more switch-over contacts of the unslotted code bars, selects the respective contact which corresponds to the code signal set by the function levers.

Further details of the invention are now described with reference to the example of embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the perspective view of the control attachment,

FIG. 2 shows the arrangement and the construction of the contact assemblies with respect to the circuitry by way of a circuit arrangement,

FIG. 3 shows the control and interrogation device of an unslotted code bar in a perspective view, and

FIG. 4 provides a survey of the code signals assigned to the individual function cards when the five-channel system is employed.

The control attachment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is provided for apparatus which employ the five-channel system for the purpose of propagating and processing information. This five-channel system is commonly used in telegraphy. Especially in this field the employment of control attachments has lately become necessary be cause of the automation in industry. However, the usual .available thirty two (25) combinations, even when taking into account the fact that this number can be doubled by the letter-figure shift, customary with teleprinters, have proved to be insuflicient for meeting the frequent demand for additional control facilities. Thus, for example, the control attachment olfers the possibility, in connection with a page printer, preferably in a tripleshift operation, in which all control processes are attached to the third shift which is blocked to all other purposes, and via which the printing and spacing is suppressed, to perform a switching-on and switching-off of all apparatus combined within the system. This is accomplished via the telegraph line common to all corresponding teleprinters, and with the aid of the control attachment, by corresponding impulses.

The control attachment is designed to guarantee an easy control, in that the five function levers 1, which perform the sensing of the given code selection, and which are acted upon by a spring 2, are arranged in an easily accessible way. The function levers 1 which are pivoted in the centre of rotation 3 (FIG. 3) transfer their sensing position at the point 4 to the code bars 5 and 6. The code bar 5 is unslotted and is narrower within the range of the function cards 8 than the other code bars 6, by differing therefrom by the depth of the slot. In this way, for example, the first impulse which is usually controlled by code bar 5, of the five-unit code combinations is dispensed with, so that a corresponding selection of the four code bars 6 will result, as is shown in the diagram of FIG. 4. Of course, in this way it is no longer possible to provide a defined allocation, but this can be re-accomplished again with the aid of suitable measures described hereinafter. Anyway, by this it is achieved that the number of function cards 8, which is necessary to effect the sensing of the usual thirty-two codes, is reduced to siX- teen (M) which is one half of the usual number of cards, so that in this way a substantially smaller size of construction will result. Quite depending on requirements, and within certain limits, a further reduction of the function cards 8 can be achieved by employing more than one unslotted code bar.

The function cards 8 which are guided in the side plates 20 (FIG. 1) vertically in relation to the code bars 5 and 6, are in their normal position under the action of a spring of a double contact, preferably a double make contact k9, which is assigned to them, and which is closed as the function card 8 engages. The control attachment is controlled via a double cam-shaped shaft 19 on which the function cards 8 and 10 rest. In order to effect a sensing of the code bar position these function cards are lowered and lifted in the course of one half rotation. A toothed wheel 16 which is mounted to this shaft in order to effect the driving, is provided with two cams 17 staggered by and arranged horizontally. These cams, in the normal position via a bolt 18a, operate a pressure bail .18, by which the code bars 5 and 6 are retained in their normal position with their function levers 1 in opposition to the spring action 2, so that the device to be sensed can be freely set. The camshaft 1? and the earns 17 on the toothed wheel 16 are so arranged with respect to one another that no sooner than after the terminated selection of the code bars, and upon release of the pressure bail 18, via the cam 17, the function cards 8 and 10 will engage. In addition to the function card 8 a function card 10 is provided which, owing to a larger cutout portion, actuates the associated double contact, preferably double make contact k11 during each sensing operation, so that this contact may gain importance as a versatile interrogation contact. By the lower edge 10!: of the cutout portion, and in accordance with the number of code bars, in this particular case five, function slides 12 are brought into either the normal or the sensing position via their projections 12b and in accordance with the movement of the function cards and, with their transversal extension 12a perform a sensing as to the position of the code bars and 6. All five of the code bars 5 and 6 are provided to this end with a slot-like flattening 7 at their end within the range of the transversal extensions 12a, so that between a positive and negative code bar selection, different level surfaces are sensed which, via the function slides 12, eifect the setting of the corresponding contact spring assemblies, preferably make contacts k13. These contacts k13, in connection with an interrogation contact kll, represent an additional parallel output.

As already mentioned hereinbefore, each of the funciton cards 8 interrogates two combinations. In order to achieve a defined allocation of the two contacts k9 which are controlled by the function card 8 a switch-over contact k15 is provided, which is controlled together with the contact k1? of the unslotted code bar 5. The switching-over of the contact k15, effected by the hitherto neglected first impulse, in connection with the assignment or allocation of the function card contacts k9 as shown in FIG. 2 results in a defined contact selection which corresponds to the individual code signal.

Theoretically, a further reduction of the function cards 8 to respectively half of the previously required number can be carried out to the extreme in accordance with the described principle, but finds its practical limitation in the multiplicative increase of the control contacts, without gaining any considerable advantage by dispensing with those function cards which are then no longer required.

While we have described above the principles of our invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of 4; our invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A control attachment for telegraph apparatus for receiving pulse code signals and for providing an output indication thereof comprising a plurality of code bars selectively positionable in accordance with received pulse code signals, with said bars, excepting at least one, having a plurality of permutably arranged slots therein, a plurality of spaced actuating cards extending transversely to said slotted bars, and arranged for individual operation responsive to an alignment of said slots of said slotted bars when said bars are selectively positioned, means associated with each said operated card for providing an output indication of two separate and distinct codes, and means associated with an unslotted bar for selecting one of said codes according to the selective positioning of said unslotted bar.

2. A control attachment for telegraph apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the number of output indications is equal to *2, the number of code bars is equal to n and the number of actuating cards is equal to 2 2.

3. A control attachment for telegraph apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the number of slotted bars is equal to n--1.

4. A control attachment for telegraph apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said unslotted bar includes a cutout portion of a depth not less than the depth of said slots and wherein said actuating cards extend transversely of said slotted and unslotted bars.

Lang June 12, 1945 Berke Aug. 14, 1956 

